The destruction of a 46,000-year-old cave and the backlash for Australia’s mining industry
In Western Australia, on the lands of the Puutu Kunti Kurrama and Pinikura people, there was a 46,000-year-old cave, where thousands of artefacts were discovered, revealing incredible things about the history of this continent. In late May Rio Tinto – one of the world’s biggest mining companies – blew it up. Calla Wahlquist explores the archaic law that allowed this to happen, and the ensuing backlash that could change how the mining industry operates
• Culture warriors obsessed with statues ignore Rio Tinto’s vandalism of Indigenous heritage
You can also read Calla Wahlquist’s reporting revealing that the site had been destroyed, plus the latest news about Rio Tinto caving in to demands to release a review of Indigenous heritage site destruction, and the leaked tape that reveals Rio Tinto does not regret destroying this site.
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